Professor Marian Baird among the AFR's 100 Women of Influence

10 Oct 2013

The awards recognise the depth of female leadership talent across Australia, covering 10 categories: board/management, innovation, public policy, business entrepreneur, diversity, young leader, global, social enterprise, not for profit/philanthropy and local/regional.

Professor Baird was recognised alongside the University of Sydney Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson, Dr Bidda Jones (Honorary Lecturer, Faculty of Veterinary Science) and Dr Susan Pond (Adjunct Professor, US Studies Centre) who were all selected by an eminent judging panel from more than 500 entrants.

Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney said the inclusion of four members of the University community was a significant honour.

"We're delighted that the panel has acknowledged these four brilliant women from the University of Sydney, and I congratulate them on the well-deserved recognition of their leadership in the wider community."

Professor Marian Baird is Professor of Employment Relations, Acting Chair of the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies and Director of the Women and Work Research Group at the University of Sydney Business School. Marian is co-editor of the Journal of Industrial Relations and is on the editorial board of the Australian Bulletin of Labour and the international journal, Community, Work and Family. She is a Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate, a member of the Women's College Council and on the Research Committee of the Diversity Council of Australia. Marian has contributed to a number of government advisory boards and reference groups relating to parental leave, discrimination and gender equity in the workplace.

'I am honoured to be included in this group of 100 women of influence and it is wonderful that their contributions are acknowledged. I have been studying women and work for over a decade and see this area of enquiry as one of the most important of our times. It is a privilege therefore to see this research having an impact on public policy and to have this recognised.'

Professor Baird is one of Australia's leading researchers in the fields of women, work and family. She has received a number of Australian Research Council and federal and state government grants to study maternity and parental leave, flexibility for working parents, women and the global financial crisis, mature age workers and low paid workers, gender equitable organisational change and work and family in regional Australia. She is widely published in Australia and internationally.